NEW DELHI– The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed to convey to the Supreme Court the concerns of Indian Super League (ISL) clubs and players over the delayed start of the 2025–26 season, which has been put on hold due to a dispute over renewing the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
The AIFF has held off signing the MRA, citing Supreme Court observations in an ongoing case, prompting FSDL to suspend preparations for the upcoming ISL season.
On Thursday, the AIFF organized a meeting between its legal team and ISL club representatives to address the impasse. “It has been agreed by all parties that the concerns of the ISL clubs pertaining to the delay in the commencement of the 2025–26 ISL season, and the hardship being felt by the players and other stakeholders, will be conveyed to the Hon’ble Supreme Court next week for its kind consideration,” the AIFF posted on Instagram.
The federation said it had initiated the renewal process with FSDL well in advance, formally requesting negotiations on November 21, 2024. Senior officials from both sides met in New Delhi on February 5, 2025, and in Mumbai on March 5, 2025, to discuss renewal terms. However, the deal stalled following the Supreme Court’s observations.
In a letter to participating clubs, FSDL stated it was forced to put the 2025–26 season on hold because it could not “effectively plan, organise, or commercialise” the league without a signed MRA. The current agreement with the AIFF is set to expire on December 8, 2025 — roughly one-third of the way into a typical ISL season, which runs from September to April.
FSDL said no final response had been received from the AIFF on the renewal proposal, leaving the season in limbo. (Source: IANS)
